Swinging drawbar assembly for three point hitch



June 20, 1961 H. GAINES, JR 2,989,128

SWINGING DRAWBAR ASSEMBLY FOR THREE POINT HITCH Filed Dec. 27, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Harry Gaines, Jn

INVENTOR.

owl/WW 15m June 20, 1961 H. GAINES, JR

SWINGING DRAWBAR ASSEMBLY FOR THREE POINT HITCH Filed Dec. 27, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Harry Gaines, Jz

INVENTOR.

9 BY ma WW0; 3M

June 20, 1961 H. GAINES, JR

SWINGING DRAWBAR ASSEMBLY FOR THREE POINT HITCH Filed Dec. 2'7, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 3 illilll! m w m m a w m 9% H Y B ,Unitcd States Patent2,989,128 SWINGING DRAWBAR ASSEMBLY FOR THREE POINT HITCH Harry Gaines,Jr., 200 Connelly St., Clovis, N. Mex.

Filed Dec. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 705,692

6 Claims. (Cl. 172-447) The present invention generally relates to adrawbar assembly for a tractor employed in towing various imp ments andmore particularly relates to a swinging drawbar assembly for tractorshaving three point hitches.

I The primary object of the present invention is to provide a swingingdrawbar for tractors having conventional three point hitches so that thetowed implements may negotiate a 90 turn withthe implements remaining inservice position during such a turn.

In certain operations such as plowing or the like, it is customary toraise the plow out of the ground during turning movement of the plowsuch as when the tractor and plow negotiate a 90 turn. This not onlyconsumes time but generally lowers the efficiency of the plowingoperation. Thus, with the present invention, the overall plowingoperation as well as other cultivating operations may be increased sincethe implement may negotiate a 90 turn without being lifted from itsworking position. A, Another important object of the present inventionis to provide a drawbar assembly in accordance with the preceding objectin which the relationship between the tractor and the towed implementmay be varied as to the longitudinal space therebetween.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a drawbarassembly in accordance with the preceding objct in which the orientationof the towed implement may be adjusted about its longitudinal axis forvarying the working angle of the implement.

"Another important object of the present invention is to provide adrawbar assembly employing conventional structural elements arranged insuch a manner to provide an effective and efficient assembly which isrelatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture andmaintain.

"-These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: ""FIGURE 1is a plan view of the rear portion of a tractor with the drawbarassembly of the present invention mounted thereon with the drawbarassembly illuslt'rated in dotted lines when the towed implement is in90. relation to the tractor;

' FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, sectionalview taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 22 of'FIGURE 1 illustrating a sideelevation of the drawbar assembly with the tractor axle and axle housingshown in section;

.FIGUREBis a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 3-4: of FIGURE I illustrating theconstruction for permitting angular adjustment of the towed implementabout its longitudinal axis;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line '4-4 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 is a detailedsectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along sectionline 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal, detailed sectional view taken substantiallyupon a plane passing along section line 6-6 of FIGURE 1; and a ice 'FIGURE 7 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 77 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generallydesignates the drawbar assembly of the present invention which isattached to a tractor generally designated by the numeral 12 whichincludes the usual rear driving wheels 14, housing assemblies 16 and adifferential housing assembly 18. Extending rear-wardly and divergentlyfrom the upper portion of the differential assembly 18 is a pair ofpowered lift arms 20 which may be keyed to shafts 22 projectinglaterally from the differential housing 18. Disposed on top of thedifferential housing 18 is a pair of lugs 24 for receiving a rearwardlyextending arm 26 secured thereto by a removable pin 28.

Adjacent the bottom of the differential housing 18 is a pair oflaterally extending rods 30 with one rod being disposed to each side ofthe differential housing 16. Supported on each of the rods 30 is anoutwardly extending bracket 36 terminating in a downturned free endportion 38. Attached to the downturned end portion 38 by fastening bolts40 is a pair of rearwardly extending angle iron members 42 disposed inspaced parallel relation with the forward ends of the angle iron members42 being interconnected rigidly by a transverse angle iron member 44.The longitudinal members 42 and the transverse member 44 coact to form arigid U-shaped frame which is disposed for pivotal movement about anaxis defined by the rods 30. Extending rearwardly from the forwardcorners of the U-shaped frame formed by the longitudinal members 42 andthe transverse member 44 is a pair of arms 46 and 48. The arm 46 isconnected to an upstanding pin 50 which is rigid with a block 52 whichmay be attached to the horizontal flange of the transverse mem ber 44and the vertical flange of the member 42 as by welding or the like. Thearm 48 is pivotally attached to a pin 54 mounted on a similar block 56.As clearly shown in FIGURE 5, the pin 50 extends above the U- shapedframe and above the members forming the U- shaped frame which aremembers 42' and 44 while the pin 54 depends below the U-shaped frame.Thus, the arm 46 is above the U-shaped frame while the member 48 isbelow the U-shaped frame and the members 46 and 48 may pivotrespectively about the pins 50 and 54. Each of the pins 54 and 50 may bescrew threaded on the ends as designated by the numeral 58 for receivinga fastening nut 60 for retaining the arms swivelly on the pins.

Interconnecting the rear ends of the arms 46 and 48 is a transversesupport 62 which is connected to the rear ends of the arms 46 and 48 byswivel studs 64. It is pointed out that the arms 46 and 48 are disposedin crossed relationship as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 1. Also, therelationship of the arms 46 and 48 to the transverse member 62 is thesame as the relationship between the arms and the frame, that is, thearm 48 extends below the member 62 while the arm 46 extends above themember 62 and the swivel bolts are accordingly arranged with thisorientation of elements being clearly shown in FIGURE 4. One end of thetransverse member 62 is provided with an upwardly projecting extension66 while the other end thereof is provided with a downwardly projectingextension 68 which are for the purpose of preventing entanglement of themember 62 with the ground engaging wheels 14 of the tractor 12 duringorientation of the hitch assembly in relation to the longitudinal pathof movement of the tractor as shown in dotted line in FIGURE 1.

Rigidly interconnecting the rear end of longitudinal angle iron members42 is a pair of transverse strap irons 70 which rigidify the U-shapedframe and the straps are provided with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced openings 72 therein which receive pins 74 which may be em- Iployed for preventing lateral movement of the arms 46 and 48respectively. The pins 74 are employed to prevent lateral movement ofthe arms 46 and 48 when the implement is picked up, such as when itwould be transported across a field thus preventing lateral swingingmovement of the implement which would occur were the arms 46 and 48permitted to swing freely with the implement in an elevated position aswill presently be apparent.

Each of the arms 46 and 48 is provided with a projecting lug 76 thereonto which is attached a coil tension spring 78 with the tension springsextending forwardly and in a converging manner for attachment to arearwardly extending L-shaped bracket 80 rigid with the center of thetransverse angle iron member 44. The springs 76, 78 are employed forcentralizing the arms 46 and 48 respectively thus placing the implementbeing towed by the tractor in line with the tractor when the implementis lifted from the service or working position whereby the implement andthe drawbar assembly will be normally urged to a position in which thetransverse support member 62 is perpendicular to the path of movement ofthe tractor.

The rear end of each longitudinal angle iron member 42 is provided witha pair of upwardly extending lugs 82 pivotally receiving one end of aconnecting link 84 which has the end thereof connected to the lugs 82 bya fastening pin 86. The upper end of the connecting link 84 is connectedto a pair of depending lugs 88 on the lift arms 20 by a pivot pin 90whereby operation of the lift arms 20 in a vertical plane will causepivotal movement of the U-shaped frame about a transverse axis definedby the rods or shafts 30.

An elongated tubular member 92 is welded to the front central surface ofthe transverse support member 62. The forward end of the elongatedmember 92 extends between the transverse straps 70 and the configurationof the elongated member 92 is rectangular in transverse cross-section.The member 92 is movable between the straps 70 and may be withdrawn frombetween the straps 70. An elongated rectangular rod 94 is slidablydisposed in the elongated tubular member 92 and projects from theforward end thereof. The forward end of the elongated rod member 94 isprovided with a transverse abutment 96 at the forward end thereof. Therear end of the rod 94 is rigidly connected with a transverse platemember 98 such as by welding or the like. Rod 94 may move freely throughtubular member 92 and through the transverse member 62 with its movementbeing limited at one end by abutment 96 and at the other end bytransverse plate 98. With the implement on the ground and forwardmovement being made by the tractor, the rod 94 will move rearwardlyuntil abutment 96 comes into contact with the forward end of the tubularmember 92. This movement permits the transverse plate 98 and theelements towed behind the transverse plate 98 to move far enough behindthe tractor to permit a sharp turn as shown in phantom in FIGURE 1. Withthe implement on the ground and a rearward movement of the tractor beingprovided, the member 94 may move forwardly in the tubular member 92until plate 98 approaches the transverse support member 62 whereby theimplement can then be raised when in this position and be transportedclose to the rear of the tractor.

Extending rearwardly from and rigid with the transverse plate 98 is amounting pin 100 which extends through an opening in a transverse hitchmember 102 having projecting studs 104 on the outer ends thereof towhich is attached a pair of rearwardly extending arms 106 connected withthe implement. The arms 106 are connected to the studs 104 in anysuitable manner. Also provided on the plate and rigid therewith is anL-shaped lug 108 to which certain types of implements may be attached.The hitch member 102 is rotatable on the pin 100 and is retained thereonby fastening nut means 110. Rigid with 2,989,128 g A f and upstandingfrom the transverse plate 98 is a pair of converging angle iron framemembers 112 having an upstanding pin 114 at the apex thereof. The upperedge of the transverse plate 98 is provided with an arcuate notchedquadrant 116 rigid therewith. The arcuate quadrant 116 has a centerdefined by the center of rotation of the transverse hitch member 102.The transverse hitch 102 is provided with an upwardly extending handle118 having a spring urged latch element 120 thereon for engagement withthe notched quadrant 116. The latch element 120 is connected with anoperating link 122 having a lever 124 associated with the free end ofthe handle 118 whereby movement of the spring urged lever 124 will causethe dog or latch 120 to selectively engage the notched periphery of thearcuate quadrant 116 thus per mitting angular movement of the handle 118in relation to the plate 98 thus pivoting the hitch member 102 on thepin 100 and setting the angular relation between the transverse plate 98and the hitch member 102 for varying the angle of the implement aboutits longitudinal axis. The purpose of this adjustment of the implementabout its longitudinal axis is to allow end depth control to certaintypes of implements such as a scraper blade and to adjust a plow whenopening a field or in making the last furrow.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it is noted that a transverse cross bar 126extends through and between the lift arms 20 and is attached to the liftarms. Attached centrally to the cross bar 126 is a vertical rod 128 andthe vertical rod 128 extends through a U-shaped end 130 on the end ofarm 26 and is retained in adjusted relation to the U-shaped end 130 by apair of adjustable collars 132. The rod 128 also extends through theU-shaped end 134 on an elongated rearwardly extending channel-shapedmember 136 and is retained in adjusted relation to the U-shaped end 134by a pair of adjustable collars 138. The rear end of the channel-shapedmember 136 is provided with a cross piece 140 which forms a closure forthe rear end of the channel shaped member 136. Slidably disposed in thechannel-shaped member 136 is an elongated rearwardly extending arm 142having an upwardly extending lug 144 at the forward end thereof which isslidable between the free edges of the channel-shaped member 136 withthe transverse cross member 140 forming a limit for limiting the outwardmovement of the rearwardly extending arm 142. The rear end of the arm142 is provided with an eye member disposed over the upwardly extendingpin 114 at the apex of the converging frame members 112 with this eyemember being designated by the numeral 146. Also connected to the pin114 is a rearwardly extending coupling member 148 which is connected tothe implement which is in addition to the arm 106 thus providing threepoints of attachment to the implement.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 3, one edge of the transverse plate 98 isprovided with a downwardly extending member 150. This downwardlyextending member 150 prevents the extending rear portions from gettinginto the tractor wheel when a sharp right turn is negotiated. Of course,this is limited to when the retractible portions are not extended. Theframe will prevent this during left turning movement.

The rod 94 and arm 142 may be provided with a plurality oflongitudinally spaced apertures 151 for receiving spring urged pins 152mounted within a U-shaped bracket 154 having the coil springs 156 urgingthe pin into engagement with one of the holes 151. The brackets 154 aremounted on the members 136 and 92 respectively and a flexible element158 is secured to an eye member on each pin 152 and the flexible member158 is terminally attached to a plate 160 which in turn is attached to aflexible element 162 extending to the operators seat whereby theoperator may pull on the flexible element 162 for releasing the pins 152for permitting the elements 94 and 142 to move rearwardly thuspermitting the implement to move far enough behind the vehicle tovehicle to turn.

While the present invention has been specifically disclosed inconjunction with a farm tractor having a conventional three point hitcharrangement, it is pointed out that the device may be employed withvarious types of tractors employed in various uses such as in industrialuses. For example, the type of draw-bar disclosed may be employed on atractor that has a mower attached thereto for facilitating mowing grassand the like along roadways which makes the device especially adaptablefor mowing around culverts, abutments or other obstructions. Further,the present drawbar could be employed on a crawler type tractor toadvantage and the device will find many uses. in industry as well as infarming and other related uses.

Also, the device may be used with two point lifting arm hook-ups andalso with one point hitch implement arrangements and with the two pointor one point hookup, the top portions of this arrangement would not beneeded since the top portion of the arrangement is employed only whenthe three point hook-up, which is disclosed in the application, is used.

In considering the invention disclosed, the implement employed with thetractor having the three point hook-up will obviously have to haveaJthree point arrangement that possesses the facilities to makeconnection. Thus, a tractor having a three point hook-up will not beable to make an attachment to a twopoint or a one-point implement andconversely, a tractor having a two point or one point hook-up could notbe attached to a three point implement. In other words, there aretractors provided which have one, two or three point hook-up means andthere are also implements having one, two or three point connections andthe same must be used with each other, that is, a three point hook-uptractor with a three-point connection implement, a two point hook-uptractor with a two point connection implement, and a one point hookuptractor with a one point connection implement. Thus, while the presentapplication deals with the specific disclosure of the three pointhook-up tractor and the three point connection implement, the drawbarmay be adapted for either type of tractor hoolcup or implementconnection arrangement.

In the event the tractor does not have a built-in hydraulic system,there may be provided an auxiliary hydraulic servo unit. In industrialequipment, air compressors are built for attachment to the powertake-01f of tractors and in this case, the air pressure could beemployed in lieu of hydraulic facilitim. There are also electric pumpsfor tractors and in view of this, a tractor would not necessarily needlifting arms since a vertical or horizontal arm may be attached toelement 44. A piston and cylinder arrangement either air orhydraulically operated may be attached to this arm and the other end ofthe piston and cylinder arrangement could be attached to a stationarypart of the tractor or to the pulling leg of the tractor drawbar forpivoting the hitch assembly whereby the drawbar assembly may be pivotedabout the axis of the attachment bolts thus providing elevationalmovement to the end of the drawbar assembly to which the implement isattached. There also may be provided a hydraulic piston and cylinderarrangement or an air piston and cylinder arrangement connected with theforward end of the swinging drawbar to control the lateral movement ofthe implement and this piston and cylinder arrangement could be hookeddirectly to the hydraulic conduit to the hydraulic steering servo unitwhich is found on tractors having power steering equipment so thatlateral movement of the implement would respond in direct relationshipto the movement of the front wheel during steering control of thetractor.

Ifhe foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those permit the to the exact construction andoperation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A drawbar assembly for use in farm tractors having powered lift arms,a differential housing and outwardly extending axle housings, saidassembly comprising a substantially U-shaped frame supported below thedifferential housing for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, apair of links connected with the U-shaped frame in spaced relation tothe pivot axis thereof with the links being connected with the poweredlift arms whereby the frame may be pivoted about its transverse axis, atransverse support bar disposed rearwardly of the U-shaped frame, and apair of equal length crossed arms connected at one end in horizontallyspaced relation to the U-shaped frame and at the other end in spacedrelation on opposite sides of the center of the transverse support barwhereby upon turning of the tractor to the right or left the support barwill be turned to a position generally parallel to the normal path oftraverse of the tractor, said transverse support bar being provided witha longitudinally extending sleeve rigid therewith, an elongated rodslidably mounted in said sleeve, said rod having an abutment 011 theforward end thereof for limiting the rearward sliding movement thereofand a transverse plate on the rear end thereof, means on the rear end ofsaid rod for attachment to an implement whereby the towed implement willbe disposed remote from the tractor to permit the tractor to negotiate aturn when the tractor is exerting force on the implement but whichpermits the implement to be moved to a position adjacent the rear of thetractor when the tractor is moved rearwardly thus enabling the implementto be short coupled for ease of transport when elevated by the poweredlift arms.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means at the rear end of therod for attachment to an implement includes means for effecting angularadjustment of the implement about a longitudinal axis for orientating aworking tool mounted on the implement.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said last named means includes astationary arcuate segment having notches in the periphery thereof, ahandle rigid with the means on the rear end of the rod, said means onthe rear end of the rod including a rearwardly extending pin, atransverse member rotatably mounted on said pin, said handle beingmounted on said transverse member, and a latch on said handle forengagement with the segment for locking the transverse member inadjusted relation about the axis of the pin.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein means is provided on the frame forlimiting the swinging movement of the support bar.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein means is provided on the frame forlocking the support bar in transversely adjusted position.

6. The combination of claim 2 wherein means is provided onthe sleeve forlocking and releasing the rod for sliding movement, said means beingoperable from the operators seat of the tractor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,360,263 Bloom et a1 Nov. 30, 1920 1,542,581 Prilipp et a1. June 16,1925 2,077,942 Lindgren Apr. 20, 1937 2,384,363 Bingham Sept. 4, 19452,515,429 Smoot July 18, 1950 2,667,366 Otjen Jan. 26, 1954 2,710,569Altgelt June 14, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 699,702 Great Britain Nov. 11,1953

